Mounting for rectangular objects and use thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a mounting for flat objects, such as CD cases for example. According to the invention, an open frame (1) consists of an upper side leg (2), a lower side leg (3) and a transverse leg (4). In a preferred embodiment of the frame (1), the outer edges (5, 6, 7) of the legs (2, 3, 4) and the inner edges (8, 9, 10) are interconnected at right angles, the inner edge and outer edge of a leg being non-parallel, so forming a tilted holder (11). Since one inner edge (9) is shorter than the length of an edge of the object to be held, a corner of the object projects over the end face (22) of the frame (1). The frames can be secured adjacent to one another by suitable securing elements, and adjacent frames can be rotated through 180°, such that the projecting corners of the objects to be stored lie alternately at the top and the bottom, and the objects can thus be removed from the mountings easily, even through the amount of space available is very small. The mountings can also be used as packaging, or part of the packaging, for the objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a mounting for rectangular, flat objects,particularly for CD cases and video cassettes. Moreover, the inventionalso relates to various uses of the mounting according to the invention.

Mountings for accommodating, storing or archiving rectangular objects,such as CD cases and video cassettes, are familiar in the form of racksystems of various configurations, where the parts can be mountedhorizontally or vertically. A rack system of this kind is described inDE-PS 42 43 540, for example.

Different types of mountings and/or supporting elements are used inthese rack systems, these being fastened to guide sections in detachablefashion and capable of being displaced in their longitudinal direction.In this way, it is possible during archiving, for example, to insert newCD cases with additional mounting at any point in the rack system.

In the familiar rack system, however, the number of mountings is limitedby the length of the guide sections. Moreover, the individual mountingsare relatively complicated to manufacture, owing to the need forfastening elements for fastening the mountings to the guide sections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The familiar rack system also requires a relatively large amount ofspace, as the individual objects to be stored are a certain distanceapart, so that they can easily be removed from the mountings.

The invention is based on the task of creating a mounting forrectangular, flat objects which is inexpensive to manufacture, in whichthe objects to be held can be stored without intermediate gaps and wherethe objects can be removed conveniently without having to performadditional manipulations on the mountings.

According to the invention, this task is solved by an open frameconsisting of opposite side legs a certain distance apart and atransverse leg connecting the side legs, these forming an approximatelyU-shaped holder, where the inner edges of the opposite side legs areparallel to each other, at least over a major portion of their length,and the distance between the parallel part of the inner edges of theside legs corresponds to an edge length of the object to be held, andwhere the length of at least one inner edge of a side leg is shorterthan the other edge length of the object to be held.

As a result of the geometrical relationships of the inner edges of theside legs in relation to each other and in relation to the objects to beheld, CD cases, for example, lie in a slightly tilted position relativeto the vertical or horizontal inside the mounting. In this context, theyproject beyond the front face of the mounting, at least on one side, asthe length of at least one inner edge of a side leg is shorter than theedge length of the object to be held. This results in a projectingcorner, which makes it easy to remove the CD case.

The outer contour of the mounting according to the invention canessentially be selected at will. In an advantageous embodiment of theinvention, however, the open frame is designed as a U-shaped angularframe. In this case, the outer edges and the opposite inner edges of theside legs are parallel to each other, at least over a major portion oftheir length, and the outer edges of the side legs form a right anglewith the outer edge of the transverse leg. In this context, the inneredge and the outer edge of each side leg are non-parallel.

as the outer edges of the three legs are interconnected at right anglesin this configuration, the mounting can be set up in space-saving manneragainst the rear wall of a cupboard shelf, a drawer or an open shelf.

In the configuration as per claim 3, where the inner edges of the sidelegs additionally form right angles with the inner edge of thetransverse leg and the inner edge of the transverse leg is not parallelto its outer edge, the rectangular objects to be held can be pushedflush against the inner edge of the rear transverse leg, so that therear area of the outer contour of the object to be held is surrounded bythe frame according to the invention in form-fitting fashion and thesize of the frame is minimised.

The frames are preferably designed in such a way that they correspond tothe width of the object to be held. In this way, the objects to be heldcan be positioned alongside or on top of each other withoutspace-consuming gaps between them.

In order to form a rack, several mounting frames are joined togetherside by side in such a way that the inner edges of the side legs ofadjacent mountings are tilted at different angles relative to thehorizontal. As a result, the projecting corner of the CD case in onemounting is at the top, for example, while the projecting corner of theCD case in the two adjacent mountings is at the bottom. In this way, theindividual CD cases can easily be gripped and pulled out of themountings without, as already mentioned, there being a need for gapsbetween the individual CD cases.

In this context, the angles of inclination of the inner edges of theside legs are relatively small, so that the CD cases cannot slipforwards and out of the mountings on their own.

In the simplest case, the mountings according to the invention can beassembled by bonding in such a way that the outer edges of the legs arealigned with each other. This results in a long storage unit, which canbe extended at will.

However, in order to be able to connect the individual frames together,they expediently display lateral securing elements which interact withthe securing element of the adjacent frame and are located on the sidesurfaces in such a way that the outer edges of the legs lie flush witheach other. In this context, the securing elements are located on theside surfaces in such a way that the individual frames can be assembledside by side or on top of each other with the inner edges of the sidelegs either flush or not flush. If the inner edges are flush, it ispossible, for example, to insert an object which is wider than the widthof one frame. In this way, one and the same frame can be used toassemble a rack for CD cases of different thicknesses, provided thattheir edge lengths are identical. If the frames are assembled in such away that the inner edges of their side legs are not flush, as is usuallythe case, the tilting of the inner edges in relation to each otherresults in front and rear guide surfaces, against which the inserted CDcase is laterally supported, so that it is mounted exactly in itsvertical or horizontal position.

In order to be able to interconnect the frames in a simple manner, andpreferably in detachable fashion, the securing elements can, forinstance, be designed as known which can be inserted or pressed intocorresponding recesses in the wall of the adjacent frames. In addition,it is also possible, for example, to design the securing elements aspermanent magnets set into the wall of the frames, these interactingwith corresponding magnetisable plates on the adjacent frame.

In order to be able to assemble the mounting with the inner edges oftheir side legs either flush or at an angle to each other, the securingelements are positioned on the side wall of the frames in such a waythat, when viewed in a clockwise direction, the knobs and recesses, orthe permanent magnets and magnetisable plates, are arranged inalternating fashion. To this end, it is also necessary for a knob on oneside of the frame have a recess in the wall on the opposite side. As aresult, adjacent frames can be assembled either in the same position orrotated through 180°.

the mountings are all of identical design and thus relativelyinexpensive to manufacture, particularly if manufactured as injectionmouldings or stamped parts.

In order to facilitate the insertion of a cassette at the face end of aframe, the inside edge of at least one of the side legs can display abevel to enlarge the width of the opening in the frame. Moreover, foreasier insertion of the object to be held, at least one of the side legscan also display a notch-like guide in the area of its inner edge. Inthis context, the notch is designed in such a way that it forms a run-inbevel which forces the object to be held in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal centre plane of the frame during insertion. If thethickness of the frame and the thickness of the object to be storedcorrespond, the objects are thus automatically guided in such a way thattheir side surfaces are positioned flush with each other.

As already mentioned, the mounting is preferably used to create aconnectable storage or racking system. In this context, the sides of theend frames can be sealed using covers, the insides of which possesssecuring elements which interact with those of the end frame, thusproducing a smooth, plane end surface.

Another advantageous use of the mounting according to the invention isthat it can be used as the packaging, or part of the packaging, for therectangular objects.

In this capacity, the frame serves to protect the object againstmechanical damage, on the one hand, and can, on the other hand, be usedas part of an expandable racking system in the manner described. Whenused for the latter purpose, it may be advantageous to fix a secondframe with relatively short side legs to the front end of the frame. Inthis context, the second frame is designed in such a way that it forms aflat, rectangular packaging in conjunction with the actual frame. Thesecond frame is advantageously transparent in this context, so that theinformation printed on the back of a CD case, for example, can be read.

When using a second frame, it is also easily possible to provide thepackaging formed in this way with a preferably transparent wrapper madeof film or the like, which additionally fixes the second frame in place.Naturally, the wrapper can also be dispensed with if the two frames canbe fixed to each other with the aid of corresponding securing elements,or if they are joined together in one piece via a predetermined breakingpoint.

The individual frames can display drilled holes or openings running inthe direction of their longitudinal centre plane in the area of theirside and/or transverse legs. With the aid of these drilled holes, themountings, or the rack assembled from them, can be secured to a smoothwall, for example, with the aid of matching screws or other suitablesecuring elements.

Given an appropriate choice of the respective securing elements reachingthrough the drilled holes in the walls, the racks can also be secured tomounting rails or mounting eyes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An example of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explainedin detail below on the basis of the drawings.

The drawings show the following:

FIG. 1 A side view of a frame,

FIG. 1A A cross-section taken along line A--A of FIG. 1,

FIG. 1B A cross-section taken along line B--B of FIG. 1,

FIG. 1C A cross-section taken along line C--C of FIG. 1,

FIG. 1D A cross-section taken along line D--D of FIG. 1,

FIG. 2 A side view of two assembled frames views,

FIG. 2A A cross-section taken along line 2A--2A of FIG. 2,

FIG. 2B A cross-section taken along line 2B--2B of FIG. 2,

FIG. 3 A side view of a second configuration of the frame, and

FIG. 4 A side view as per FIG. 2 with CD cases inserted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Frame 1, shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 2B, consists of upper side leg 2,lower side leg 3 and transverse leg 4, which connects the two side legs2, 3. Outer edge 5 of upper side leg 2 and parallel outer edge 6 oflower leg 3 both form right angles with outer edge 7 of transverse leg4.

The same applies to inner edge 8 of upper side leg 2 and inner edge 9 oflower side leg 3, which are likewise connected to inner edge 10 oftransverse leg 4 at right angles. In this context, inner edges 8, 9, 10are, however, not parallel to the corresponding outer edges 5, 6, 7,meaning that holder 11, bordered by inner edges 8, 9, 10, is tilted inrelation to the U formed by outer edges 5, 6, 7.

Side surfaces 12, 13 of frame 1 each display two knobs 14, 15 or 16, 17,as well as two drilled holes 18, 19 or 20, 21, where the knobs anddrilled holes alternate on one side in clockwise direction and arearranged on the different sides in such a way that a knob on sidesurface 12 corresponds to a drilled hole on side surface 13. In thisway, frames 1 can be assembled with inner edges 8, 9 either flush orrotated through 180°, holders 11 being tilted relative to each other inthe latter position. This position of two adjacent frames 1 isillustrated in FIG. 2.

Frame 1, according to Fig. 3, essentially corresponds to the oneillustrated in FIG. 1, but displays bevel 23 in the area of face end 22on upper side leg 2, this enlarging the width of the opening of frame 1in the area of face end 22.

In the illustration according to FIG. 3, lower side leg 3 is providedwith a notch-like guide 24, which exerts force in the direction of thelongitudinal centre plane of frame 1 with the aid of run-in bevel 25when inserting a CD case, for example.

The assembled frames 1, in accordance with FIG. 4, correspond to thosein FIG. 2, although a CD case is inserted in each frame in this case,the projecting corners 26, 27 of which are respectively located at thetop and the bottom and project beyond face end 22 owing to the fact thatholders 11 are tilted relative to each other.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specificallyillustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minorvariations may be made in the apparatus without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting for rectangular flat objects,particularly for CD cases and video cassettes, comprising an open frame(1) including opposite side legs (2, 3) and a transverse leg (4)connecting the side legs (2, 3) and collectively defining asubstantially U-shaped holder (11), inner edges (8, 9) of the oppositeside legs (2, 3) being parallel to each other, the distance between theinner edges (8, 9) of the side legs (2, 3) corresponds to a first edgelength of an object to be held and the length of at least one inner edge(8) of a side leg (2) is shorter than a second edge length of the objectto be held, outer edges (5, 6) of the opposite side legs (2, 3) areparallel to each other and form a right angle with an outer edge (7) ofthe transverse leg (4), the inner edge (8 or 9) and the outer edge (5 or6) of each side leg (2 or 3) are in non-parallel relationship to eachother, the inner edges (8, 9) of the side legs (2, 3) each form a rightangle with an inner edge (10) of the transverse leg (4), and the inneredge (10) of the transverse leg (4) is in non-parallel relationship toits outer edge (7).
 2. Mounting as per claim 1, characterised in thatthe width of the frame (1) corresponds to the width of the object to beheld.
 3. Mounting as per claim 1, characterised in that the frame (1)displays lateral securing elements (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) forassembling several frames (1) side by side or on top of each other,where the outer edges (5, 6, 7) of the legs (2, 3, 4) lie flush witheach other.
 4. Mounting as per claim 3, characterised in that thesecuring elements (14 to 21) are located or designed in such a way thatthe frames (1) can be assembled side by side or on top of each otherwith the inner edges (8, 9) of the side legs (2, 3) either flush or notflush.
 5. Mounting as per claim 3, characterised in that the securingelements (14, 15, 16, 17) are designed as knobs which can be inserted orpressed into corresponding recesses or drilled holes (18, 19, 20, 21) inthe wall of the adjacent frames.
 6. Mounting as per claim 3,characterised in that the securing elements are designed as permanentmagnets which interact with magnetisable elements of the adjacent frames(1).
 7. Mounting as per claim 5, characterised in that knobs (14 to 17)and wall recesses or drilled holes (18 to 21), or permanent magnets andmagnetisable elements, are arranged alternately on both sides of theframe when viewed in the clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, where aknob (14, 15) or a permanent magnet on the side surface (12) is faced bya drilled hole (20, 21) or a magnetisable element on the opposite sidesurface (13).
 8. Mounting as per claim 1, characterised in that it isdesigned as an injection moulding or a stamped part.
 9. Mounting as perclaim 1, characterised in that the area of the face end (22) of at leastone of the side legs (2) displays a bevel (23) enlarging the width ofthe opening of the frame (1).
 10. Mounting as per claim 1, characterisedin that at least one of the side legs (3) has a notch-like guide (24) inthe area of its inner edge (9) for inserting the rectangular, flatobject.